From 1804–15, Napoléon I reigned as the emperor of France, bringing the country into a new era of opulence after the fall of the monarchy and the tumultuous years of the French Revolution. He declared, “We must have very solid things, made to last 100 years.” Empire-style furniture followed suit, with imposing pieces constructed from mahogany and adorned with gilded ornaments. Expanding on the neoclassicism popularized in the previous century — such as in Louis XVI style — Empire style borrowed from the great civilizations of antiquity, from Egypt to Greece and Rome, to connect this nascent empire to the power of the past.
Napoléon I believed the production of fine furniture would reflect the stature of the republic, with his official architects Charles Percier and Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine leading the way with their work on his residences.
Luxurious materials, symmetrical shapes and bold colors characterize antique Empire-style bedroom furniture, armchairs, cabinets and other structures, with frequent motifs including mythological creatures, geometric designs, acanthus leaves, eagles, bees (the imperial emblem) and swans, a favorite of Empress Joséphine.
Flat surfaces, like marble tabletops, were accented with decadent details, such as the bronze furniture mounts made by sculptor Pierre-Philippe Thomire for the French palaces. Martin-Guillaume Biennais, who worked as the imperial goldsmith, crafted intricate luxury objects that mixed wood, fine metal, mother-of-pearl and ivory. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.
The style became popular abroad, influencing the American Empire style. Stately pieces carved with sprigs of olives by cabinetmaker Pierre-Antoine Bellange were acquired by American President James Monroe for the White House in 1817.
Find a collection of antique Empire tables, lighting, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.
$1,600 / item
The Watchful Eagle: Iron Cast Eagle Head Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Cast Iron Eagle Head Sculpture This striking cast iron eagle head is a powerful sculptural object, modeled with bold naturalism and resting on an...
Iron
Antique French Empire Figural Bronze Sphinx Green Marble Desk Top Double Inkwell
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Figural Bronze Sphinx Green Marble Desk Top Double Inkwell. Item features decorative cast bronze sphinx like figures all mounted on an oval green marble base wh...
Bronze
Empire period gilt bronze obelisk inkwell
Located in Peyraud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Chased and gilded bronze inkwell on a canted base with a frieze of interlacings centered on rosettes. Leobelisk model, topped by a seeded fruit. It features two covered cups decorate...
Bronze
Mantel Clock with small Satyrs, 1st Half 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Mantel clock on an oval marble base, adorned with fire-gilded bronze appliqués. The clock is supported by fully sculpted satyr figures carrying an overflowing gilded fruit basket. Em...
Marble, Bronze
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Bronze Figural Candelabras, circa 1880–1900
Located in Perkasie, PA
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Bronze Figural Candelabras, circa 1880–1900 Description A handsome pair of late 19th century French Empire style figural candelabras, dating to a...
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Gilt Brass Table Mantle Clock
Located in New York, NY
Early 19th century gilt brass mantle clock with the glass hood. Decor of foliage, arrows, and bow. Crowned by an angel with lyre. The glas dome has protected it beautifully and it is...
Bronze
Pair of Empire Period Porcelain Campana Vases, Parisian, circa 1815
Located in Atlanta, GA
A fine pair of Paris porcelain vases, designed in campana form with the front featuring circular vignettes with landscape scenes, on the reverse are framed musical trophies created t...
Porcelain
French Empire Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze Inkwell
Located in London, GB
A highly rare and remarkably sophisticated French Charles X period luxury desk accessory, measuring 33 cm in height. Designed as an exceptional suspension inkwell (encrier), this pie...
Bronze, Ormolu
$3,000Sale Price / set|51% Off
Candelabras 5 Arms French Silver Plate 19th Century France
Located in New York, NY
Candelabras 5 Arms French Silver Plate 19th Century France . A pair of French silver plated candelabras. Decorated with leaves and flowers.
Silver Plate
19th Century, French Empire Ground Crystal and Gilt Bronze Vase Centrepiece
Located in IT
19th century, French Empire ground crystal and gilt bronze vase centrepiece This Empire centerpiece, made in France at the beginning of...
Crystal, Bronze
pair of French 19th century Empire st. Ormolu and patinated Bronze statues
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality pair of French 19th century Empire st. Ormolu and patinated Bronze statues. Each wonderfully decorative statue of a dancing maiden is raised on a square p...
Bronze, Ormolu
Rare Gilt-bronze French Empire Charles X Sunflower Mantel Clock
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Gilt and patinated bronze. The original movement has been cleaned and revised and is in perfect working condition (runs for around one week). Overall authentic condition with its ori...
Bronze
Large Russian Empire Porcelain Gold-Ground and White Bisque Figural Centrepiece
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent and large Russian Empire porcelain gold ground and white bisque figural reticulated centrepiece. A large filigree basket supported by three a...
Gold
Palace size Marble and Bronze Dore’ Clock Adorned with Psyche and Amor Figures
Located in Houston, TX
Amazing clock depicting the tale of Amor and Psyche which Is about the god of love in Greek mythology. Large bronze Dore figures adorn the pediment sta...
Bronze
Large 19th Century Continental Neoclassical Between Dresser Vanity Box
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An extensively filled 19th century ormolu-mounted ebonized wood dresser vanity box fitted with silver gold washed lidded glass gars and sewing tools. The ...
Ormolu
French 1870 Third Empire Napoleon III Pair of Urns in Marble with Gilded Ormolu
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of mythological Urns from the French third Empire period. Fabulous decorative pieces, created in Paris, France during the period of the Third French Empire under Napoleon III...
Siena Marble, Bronze
Rare Pair of French Empire Dore Bronze Genie Oil lamps w/ Medusa Masks
Located in New York, NY
Rare Pair of French Empire Period (Circa 1810) Dore Bronze Genie Oil lamps of finest quality, chasing, and two tone gilding w/ Medusa Masks on Gray Marble Bases Each lamp is conceiv...
Marble, Bronze
Pair of 19th Century Swedish Empire Ormolu and Marble Winged Victory Candelabra
Located in Essex, MA
Pair of Grand Gilt Bronze and Marble Empire Candelabra. Each with a Winged Victory Holding a four arm trumpeted candleholder. Period Early 19th Century and we believe these to be S...
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Urns with Sphinx Heads
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of French Empire (19th Cent) gilt bronze urns with triangular shaped bases, finial tops and sphinx ram heads. (PRICED AS PAIR)
Bronze
Meditation French Empire Mantel Clock by Claude Galle
By Claude Galle
Located in New Orleans, LA
Empire Mantel Clock Claude Galle Circa 1810 This Empire period mantel clock by Galle exemplifies the sophisticated allegorical artistry of early 19th-century French horology. Repres...
Marble, Bronze, Enamel
Pair of French Empire Patinated and Gilt Bronze Candelabra, 19th Century
Located in El Monte, CA
This impressive pair of gilt and patinated bronze candelabra is a quintessential example of the French empire style. Drawing from Greco-Roman influence, each candelabra features a ce...
Porphyry, Bronze
19th Century Bronze Mounted Cut Crystal Vase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cut crystal. Bronze mounted. Swan motif. Finely chased. Measure: Base is 3.5" by 3.5".
Crystal, Bronze
French Empire Allegorical Clock Garniture of "Psyche Crowning Amor"
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A large scale French Empire figurative allegorical clock showing “Psyche Crowning Amor”. Psyche stands to the right of the domed clock plinth, holding her ...
Siena Marble, Bronze
$6,800Sale Price|20% Off
French Early 19th Century Empire Gilt Bronze Dragon Handled Urn Clock
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An rare model French Empire mantle clock featuring a classical urn with dragon handles. The clock is entirely of gilded bronze with original fire gilding. The urn-shaped case is surm...
Bronze
$14,850Sale Price / set|40% Off
Pair French 19th Century Napoleon III Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Urn Table Lamps
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine pair of French 19th century Napoleon III Empire style patinated-bronze and gilt-bronze mounted allegorical covered urn vases lamps in the manner of Pierre-Philippe Thomire (Fr...
Bronze
French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
French Empire Ormolu mantel clock resting on four turned feet supporting an oval base with raised garland and zig-zag rope decoration...
Ormolu
Vintage French Empire Jardinière with Gilt Eagle Design, Made in Italy
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This is a French Empire style jardinière with strong 19th century imperial imagery. The shape is quite architectural and unusual. It has a black background with a red painted rim and...
Tôle
French Empire Troubadour Mantel Clock
By Le Roy
Located in New Orleans, LA
This resplendent French Empire gilt bronze mantel clock features an extraordinarily detailed scene of a singing troubadour with his lyre along a rocky river bank. Accompanied by a wi...
Marble, Bronze
$3,040Sale Price|20% Off
Period French Empire Mantle Clock Depicting a Winged Cupid Playing a Lute
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine quality chased and gilded French Empire mantle clock depicting a standing winged cupid to the right of the clock plinth playing a lute. He looks to his right reading his sheet music and other elements including a torch, flambeau, wreath etc. On the left side of the clock plinth is a three legged...
Bronze
French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock of Aurora in Her Chariot Pulled by Her Winged
Located in London, GB
Fine antique French Empire Ormolu mantel clock of a chariot drawn by two winged horses carrying the chariot with a female figure. Thi...
Ormolu
Large Empire mantel clock 'Cupid and Psyche' after Claude Michallon (1751-1799)
By Claude Michallon
Located in Berlin, DE
Claude Michallon Cupid Psyche After Claude Michallon sculpture Claude Michallon Amour et Psyché French Neoclassical Cupid Psyche 18th century French sculpture Neoclassical bronz...
Siena Marble
French Napoleon III silver jug or decanter
By Baccarat
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
French Napoleon III silver jug or decanter Napoleon III style French silver and glass jug Circa 1930 Origin France Excellent quality cut crystal, could be baccarat The silver part ha...
Crystal, Silver
Monumental French Gilt and Patinated Bronze Malachite Clock
Located in Tarzana, CA
A very large and impressive 19th century Empire style gilt and patinated bronze malachite mantel clock depicting 'Psyche Crowning Cupid.' Psyche crown...
Malachite, Bronze
$5,200Sale Price|20% Off
A French Empire Clock of the Roman Goddess Aurora Announcing a New Day
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A period French Empire allegorical mantel clock with a case of finely chased and gilt bronze. Aurora stands to the left of the circular clock plinth draping a starry cloak over the g...
Bronze
Pair of Antique French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Green Marble Military Urns
Located in New York, NY
A significant pair of antique French Empire style gilt bronze and green marble military urns. Each urn in this magnificent and unique pair showcases a tall, baluster-shaped body craf...
Marble, Bronze
$4,400Sale Price / set|32% Off
Pair of 19 Century Russian Empire Figural Gilt and Patinated Bronze Candelabra
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A pair of Russian Empire figural candelabra featuring a patinated bronze caryatid holding a gilt bronze urn mounted with a torch atop her head, with two ...
Bronze
Pair of Candlesticks in Silvered Bronze, Empire Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of candlesticks in silvered bronze. Fluted shaft. Base adorned with a frieze of palmettes. Circular molded feet. English work realized under the French Empire (1804-1815). !Th...
Bronze
$6,000Sale Price|20% Off
French Empire Clock Depicting Psyche Playing with a Butterfly After Canova
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A French Empire Clock depicting Psyche playing with a butterfly after a marble statue by Canova displayed in the Louvre. A patinated bronze Psych...
Bronze
$3,800Sale Price|20% Off
French Empire Allegorical Clock Depicting Roman Triumph and Power
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A figural gilt bronze French Empire clock, ‘Allegory to Triumph and Power’. A Roman emperor stands to the right of the central rectangular plinth housing the movement; atop the plint...
Bronze
Very Handsome Pair of French Empire Period Gilt Brass Candlesticks, Circa 1820
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A very handsome & tall pair of early 19th century French Empire gilt brass candlesticks. Both showing reeded columns rising up from circular bases decorated by hand with finely chiseled motifs, to similarly addressed urn-shaped nozzles with detachable bobeches. Constructed in three sections, with the nozzle and column firmly attached to the base by means of a full length threaded metal post...
Brass
French Empire Single Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Caryatid Candlestick, C. 1810
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Empire Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Caryatid Candlestick, circa 1810 Single French Empire caryatid candlestick in ormolu and contrasting patinated bronze, probably made in Par...
Bronze, Ormolu
A fine Pair of French Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks, 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of French Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks, 1820s A fine pair of gilt bronze candlesticks from France, dating to the Empire period, circa 1820. Each candlestick is richly decor...
Bronze
Antique early 19th century French bronze and Sienna marble mantle clock
Located in London, GB
A large and impressive early 19th Century French bronze & Sienna marble Clock surmounted with well-cast bust of Jupiter. The Clock, having 8-day s...
Marble, Bronze
French Sevres Green Ground Porcelain Framed Charger Napoleon Courting Josephine
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Tarzana, CA
A Large and very fine French Sevres green ground porcelain framed charger depicting the consecration of the Emperor Napoleon I and coronation of the...
Porcelain
Fine 19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze and Patinated Bronze Mantle Clock
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine 19th century Empire gilt bronze figural mantle clock. Patinated bronze and gilt bronze fine details. Working condition.
Bronze
19th Century Candlestick Lightshade Vienna by Balthasar Wigand Mother of Pearl
Located in Epfach, DE
Mother of pearl light shade or candlestick by Balthasar Wigand Vienna about 1810-1820 with very fine painting from the Galitzerberg in Vienna. B...
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Malachite and Gilt Bronze Centerpiece
Located in Dallas, TX
Fine 19th century French Empire malachite and gilt bronze centerpiece. Cut crystal top bowl .Fine mercury gilt bronze sphinx's.
Malachite
Empire Period Portico Clock, White Marble & Gilt Bronze, Circa 1810
Located in Berlin, DE
Mantel clock, Table clock, Portal clock, Portico clock, Pendulum clock, Antique clock, Louis XVI style, Neoclassical, French, 18th Century style, Marble, White marble, Ormolu, Gilt...
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Pair of French Empire Polished Brass and Black-Enameled Cast Iron Candlesticks
Located in New York, NY
Each with removable nozzle in brass above an acanthus shoulders over a brass column with lotus-leaf capital terminating in an acanthus-form knob, supported on a tripartite base with ...
Brass, Iron
Picture frame Red Empire style ornaments Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular photo frame in gold-plated 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent ruby red enamel on guilloche, with late 19th century Russian Empire style ornaments. Blue alcantara p...
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock “Lettre d’Amour”, Att. François-Louis Savart
Located in New York, NY
An Important French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock “Lettre d’Amour,” Attributed to François-Louis Savart, Paris The clock is formed with a rectangular case rising from a shaped plinth base set on four flattened bun feet. The base displays a continuous frieze cast in relief with two sheep flanking a central urn, framed by scrolling foliage at each end. Above, the main case supports a circular white enamel dial with Roman numerals and two winding apertures, enclosed within a beaded ormolu bezel. Beneath the dial, a rectangular panel is cast with a reclining male figure in a landscape setting, accompanied by trees. To the left, a female figure is seated on a cushion supported by an X form empire stool, her body turned toward the dial. She raises one hand toward her face while a bird rests on her knee, and she holds a circular medallion bearing a profile portrait. To the right, a tripod table stands on three supports formed as winged griffins with lion heads and clawed feet. The table surface holds a writing box with an open lid, a quill, and a candlestick. The surfaces throughout are finished in gilt, with visible chasing across the figures, drapery, and ornamental borders. The clock is attributed to François Louis Savart, a bronzier active in Paris. Savart produced objects in gilt bronze including clocks, candelabra, and decorative mounts. He maintained a workshop in Paris where he developed figural clock models incorporating classical motifs and narrative subjects. Comparable models associated with Savart include figural compositions with seated female figures, auxiliary furniture elements, and narrative relief panels, reflecting established design types within Parisian bronze production. Savart’s workshop operated within the Paris bronze industry, where cast ormolu objects were produced using sand casting followed by chasing and gilding. The construction of this clock case reflects the use of multiple cast components assembled into a unified structure, including separately cast figures, furniture elements, and applied relief panels. The inclusion of tripod tables, X form seating, and winged supports corresponds to design sources drawn from Greco Roman models that were adapted in Empire period decorative arts. The precise casting, crisp chasing, and consistent gilt surface across the figures, mounts, and relief panels indicate a high level of production quality, with the complexity of the assembled components supporting its desirability among Paris ormolu figural clocks...
Gold Plate, Bronze
Clock in Gilt Bronze, Empire Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Clock in chiselled and gilt bronze composed by a rectangular base on which stand the dial-plate and a statuette of Bacchus. Round dial-plate with Roman numbers off-center on the righ...
Bronze
Large Empire Style Ormolu and Malachite Mantel Clock with Mythological Sculpture
Located in London, GB
Large Empire style ormolu and malachite mantel clock with mythological sculpture French, late 19th century Measures: height 58cm, width 46cm, depth 14cm With large sculptural work depicting Jason and the Golden Fleece...
Malachite, Ormolu
$24,596 / set
Pair of French Gilt and Patinated Bronze Wall Lights
Located in London, GB
Pair of French gilt and patinated bronze wall lights French, 20th Century Height 103cm, width 50cm, depth 44cm Drawing inspiration from the sophisticated Empire style, these wall li...
Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th century Empire st. Bronze, Ormolu and marble clock of Napoleon
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A wonderful French 19th century Empire st. patinated Bronze, Ormolu and marble clock of Napoleon. This wonderful clock is raised on a rectangular Sienna marble base above Ormolu ball...
Siena Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of French Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks, France, 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of French Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks, France, 1820s An elegant pair of French Empire candlesticks in finely chased and gilt bronze, dating from the 1820s. The tall and bal...
Bronze
French Empire Figural Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in New York, NY
Winged cupid with flowing robe, clock resting between wings and fabric, raised on bronze ormolu-mounted verde antico plinth. France, first half of the 19th century. Measures: H ...
Marble, Bronze, Enamel
Pair Large French Empire 19th c. Paris Porcelain Urns or Vases in White & Gold
Located in Litchfield, CT
Large pair antique 19th century Paris porcelain campana urns with mask handles. Bright white porcelain with expert two tone burnished and matte gilding. Each measures 13" tall x 9" d...
Porcelain
Pair of French Empire Style Malachite, Lapis Lazuli and Ormolu Vases
Located in London, GB
Pair of French Empire style malachite, lapis lazuli and ormolu vases French, 20th Century Height 78cm, width 47cm, depth 30cm Skilfully crafted by French craftsmen, the unusual mixt...
Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Ormolu
French early 19th century Porphyry and Ormolu garniture Clock Set
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and complete French early 19th century 1st Empire Period Porphyry and Ormolu garniture clock set. This wonderful three piece garniture set is comprised of a central clock ...
Porphyry, Ormolu